Government is God's divinely ordained minister whose role is to punish evil, protect good works, and receive the tribute that supports its work.
Paul says every soul should be subject to the higher powers because the powers that be are ordained of God (Romans 13:1). The ruler is a terror to evil and carries the sword as God's revenger (Romans 13:3-4). Les Feldick adds that even ungodly rulers are God's ministers and that taxes are part of the believer's duty (Clips 5, 6).
Romans 13:1 — Declares that civil authorities are ordained by God and that every soul is to be subject to them.
Romans 13:3-4 — Defines government's role as promoting good and executing wrath and justice on evil.
Romans 13:6-7 — Shows that paying taxes and rendering dues is part of honoring God's minister.
Romans 13 opens with Paul instructing every soul to be subject to the higher powers: 'Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God' (Romans 13:1). He then warns that resisting the power is resisting the ordinance of God, and those who resist 'shall receive to themselves damnation' (Romans 13:2). Paul goes on to describe government's function: rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil. The ruler is 'the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil' and 'beareth not the sword in vain' (Romans 13:3-4). Believers are to be subject not only to avoid wrath but also for conscience sake (Romans 13:5). Paul also connects this ministry to taxes: 'For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour' (Romans 13:6-7).
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 13 is Paul's instruction about the believer's attitude toward government. He says every central government is there by divine appointment, and the 'higher powers' are not the Godhead but civil government (Clip 6). Even troublesome rulers—Les uses Hitler and unpopular presidents as examples—are in office by God's sovereign appointment (Clips 2, 6). Paul's admonition is to recognize this and be subject to it. Les says government exists so people can pursue joy, happiness, and protection; rulers are supposed to be a terror to the criminal element (Clip 1). The tribute Paul mentions is taxes, and Les says government needs tax money in order to operate; even ungodly officials are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing (Clip 5). He also places one limit on allegiance: believers may resist government when it tells them to contradict their Christian experience and the commands of Scripture (Clip 3). Les sees Genesis 9:6 as the institution of human government, giving man the authority to deal with murder by capital punishment or incarceration (Clip 0). He also looks to the future when Christ will rule the nations with a rod of iron in absolute, yet benevolent, justice (Clip 7).
Paul tells every soul to be subject to the higher powers, 'for there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God' (Romans 13:1). In verses 3-4, he explains that rulers are not a terror to good works but to evil, and that the ruler is 'the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.' Les Feldick summarizes this by saying rulers are supposed to be a terror to the criminal element, and government exists so that we can pursue joy, happiness, and protection (Clip 1).
Going back to Genesis 9:6, God declares, 'Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.' Les Feldick explains that this was the beginning of human government, when God gave man authority over his fellow man to control behavior through capital punishment or incarceration (Clip 0). Before the flood, man did not have this authority from God.
Les says the believer's first responsibility is to live peaceably under government, even a totalitarian or ungodly one. He sees only one exception: when government compels something contrary to the Christian's experience and the commands of Scripture, believers have every right to say, 'Hey, wait a minute, I can't do that' (Clip 3).
Romans 13:6 says, 'For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.' Les explains that the tribute is taxes and that government needs tax money in order to operate; even ungodly officials are God's ministers attending to this (Clip 5).
Les points to Romans 13:1 to say that there is no power but of God, and the powers that be are ordained of God. He applies this to every government, explaining that even Hitler was there by God's sovereign divine appointment, and the same is true of any American president. He also clarifies that the 'higher powers' are civil government, not the Godhead (Clip 6).
Les looks ahead to Christ's rule over the nations, saying He will rule them with a rod of iron. He describes this not as cruel, but as absolute, just, fair, and benevolent. He calls the Beatitudes the constitution of His government, noting that they do not fit the church age (Clip 7).
Origin of Human Government
Les Feldick teaches that after the flood God instituted human government by giving man the authority to put murderers to death, which is the biblical beginning of government.
Government's Purpose
Les says government exists so citizens can pursue joy and happiness; rulers are intended to be a terror to the criminal element, not to good works.
Divine Appointment of Governments
Les emphasizes that Paul admonishes believers to recognize that every central government is there by divine appointment.
When Resistance Is Allowed
Les says believers should live peaceably under government and may resist only when government contradicts Scripture and their Christian experience.
The Truth About Grace, Faith & Abraham — Romans 4:13-25
In fact, turn with me a minute to chapter 13, in Romans chapter 13, and if I would have been talking to her personally, I'd have probably done just that, I'd take her right over here and say, now look, nowhere do I or the Scripture teach that just because we're saved by grace, we're now free to do as we please.
Taxes for God's Minister
Les explains that the tribute Paul mentions is taxes; government needs tax money to operate, and even ungodly rulers are God's ministers in that role.
Higher Powers = Civil Government
Les clarifies that 'higher powers' in Romans 13 refers to civil government, not the Godhead, and that every ruler—even Hitler—is there by God's sovereign appointment.
Christ's Future Government
Les describes Christ's Millennial rule as absolute, just, and benevolent, with the Beatitudes as the constitution of His government.
Romans 13:1: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Anchor verse for the entire passage: all governing authority is God-ordained.
Romans 13:2: Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Warns that resisting the lawful power is resisting God's ordinance.
Romans 13:3-4: For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Defines government's role: protect good deeds, punish evil, and bear the sword as God's minister.
Romans 13:5: Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
Gives a second reason to be subject: not just to avoid wrath but for conscience.
Romans 13:6-7: For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Links the payment of tribute to the ongoing ministry of civil authorities.
Genesis 9:6: Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Background verse: God institutes human authority to execute judgment on murder.
Yes. Paul says 'the powers that be are ordained of God' (Romans 13:1). Les Feldick stresses that every central government, even those believers don't like, is there by divine appointment (Clips 2, 6).
Les says believers must live peaceably under government. The only instance where they have a right to resist is when government commands something contrary to Christian experience and the commands of Scripture (Clip 3).
Romans 13:6-7 says to pay tribute and render dues. Les points out that government needs tax money to operate and calls the authorities God's ministers attending continually to this very thing (Clip 5).
Paul says the ruler 'beareth not the sword in vain' and is 'a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil' (Romans 13:4). Les ties this back to Genesis 9:6, where capital punishment was part of the institution of human government (Clip 0).
Watch the Teaching: Why God Established Capital Punishment | Genesis 9 Explained